“Godmother” Program: Connecting Love

Implementing the “Godmother” program launched by the Vietnam Women’s Union, in recent times, provincial women’s unions at all levels have had many flexible and creative ways of connecting agencies, organizations, businesses, kind-hearted individuals and the whole society to join hands to help many disadvantaged children rise up in life. The program has clearly demonstrated the qualities, kindness and tolerance of women.

Pham Trung Hieu, a student at Cong Hoa Secondary School (Quang Yen Town) is sponsored 500,000 VND/month until he is 18 years old.

Pham Trung Hieu, a 6th grade student at Cong Hoa Secondary School (Quang Yen Town), has been raised and educated by relatives since he was a child, because he was born without a father, his mother was born with congenital blindness, illiterate, had no stable job, and his grandfather was old, paralyzed, and had a stroke for many years. The Women's Union of Cong Hoa Ward connected with Mr. Nguyen Huy Ninh, a philanthropist in Uong Bi City, to sponsor him until he was 18 years old, with a monthly allowance of 500,000 VND.

Pham Trung Hieu shared: "I am very happy and pleased to receive the attention of the women's association and to be sponsored by Uncle Ninh. I am very grateful for their kindness. I promise to continue to study well, be a good boy, become a solid support for my mother, and repay the kindness of my relatives and Uncle Ninh for raising me."

Despite his difficult circumstances, Hieu always studies hard and is loved by his teachers and friends. Hieu's academic achievements are worthy of emulation by his friends. Hieu won first prize in the 4th Quang Yen City Youth Informatics Contest in 2023; first prize in Grade 6 Math at the Exchange of Excellent Students of Grades 6, 7, and 8 of Quang Yen City, school year 2022-2023.

Pham Dan Le, a student at Le Loi Primary School ( *third from right* ), is sponsored by the Women's Association of Zone 8 (Quang Trung Ward, Uong Bi City) with 300,000 VND/month.

Ms. Tran Thi Thu Thao, President of the Women's Union of Cong Hoa Ward, shared: "Hieu is very obedient, understanding, loves his mother and is very determined. Although he is still young, he is aware of his difficult circumstances. We hope that the support money will help him have a better life, get a good education, and give him more motivation on his future path."

Recently, in the province, many orphans and children in difficult circumstances have been sponsored by campaigns launched by women's associations at all levels. Pham Dan Le (student of class 5A7, Le Loi Primary School, Uong Bi City), whose mother had a serious illness and passed away, and whose father had an irregular job, has raised 3 children to study. Dan Le is currently being sponsored by the Women's Association of Zone 8 (Quang Trung Ward, Uong Bi City) with a monthly allowance of 300,000 VND until she turns 18. Dan Le said: "I always consider the women of Zone 8 as my mothers. I am very happy to receive their care. I will try to study well so as not to disappoint them."

From January 2022, the Provincial Women's Union will develop a plan to deploy the "Godmother" program to 100% of the union bases; direct all levels of the union to step up propaganda work to mobilize agencies, businesses, and philanthropists to pay attention to supporting and sponsoring orphans directly or indirectly through the union at all levels.

According to the Provincial Women's Union, in 2022, through the "Godmother" program, units connected, supported, and sponsored 295 orphans in especially difficult circumstances in the province with an amount of over 1.7 billion VND. Of which, female union officials and members sponsored 18 children; philanthropists and businesses sponsored 169 children. In 2023, women's unions at all levels registered to sponsor 60 orphans. By the end of May 2023, the union had connected and sponsored 38 children, bringing the total number of 333 children sponsored through the "Godmother" program.

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